MCM London - Sunday 27th May - UK R2D2 Builders Club

Day two for early starts and a long drive up to London. The last time I was here was 2016, for Celebration Europe! That was THE best event I have ever been too!

Checkout my past posts on the event reports start here

Easy drive up and around the M25, which brings you right round to the Excel turn-off. Think I actually passed the hotel I previously stayed in back in 2016. Once cleared with security I parked up and unloaded R5 with the help of fellow R2D2 builder Sam Prentice. We set up next to the 501st. We were joined by Paul Stidston (spotter) & Simon Battell with his R2 Boba Fett painted droid.

The early bird doors opened and it wasn’t long before people found us lol.

There was lots to see but thankfully the event wasn’t as packed as Saturday. Paul mentioned this as the crowds and the temperature inside the event the previous day were overwhelming!

We went for a drive around the event,

R5 off on his travels...........

Afternoon myself & Paul went to get a cuppa, 20mins later and umpteen photos later lol, we arrived, got drinks and found a corner table to sit down. (Having being stood up nearly all day, as per usual). People wanted photos of R5, so I drove him away from as a short distance. Still in visual and vocal range lol. This was a good laugh as people would stop, chat, take photos with him & R5 would follow people etc and people would be trying to look around to see who was operating him.

R5's transmitter started beeping, so we headed back.....eventually, through the photos lol.

Got back and Brain Herring & Derek Arnold popped over, to catch up with Lee (who unfortunately could be there the weekend). We had a group chat and laugh about recent events lol & they were both kind enough to have a group photo with us and the droids.

There was plenty more crowed entertaining. Including R5 & R2 squabbling over Liz lol... R5 wasn't happy about R2 getting her attention.

Come five o'clock, the crowds started to thin out. So we started to pack up and made our way through the leaving crowds back to our cars. For me it was then a long drive back to Bristol. It was a good day and as always lots of fun.

UK R2D2 Builders Christmas Event 2017

This years event was held at a different/new location. Sam P,

arranged the event and was held in Camberley, Surrey.

web link: UK R2D2 Builders Club

Doors were open from 12 till 5 pm.

I took my two youngest along as they love seeing all the droids, plus it gives the wife a day's rest too.

There was a few planning on heading up from the South West region, Paul F, being one of them, followed me up.

We arrived just on mid-day and a few members were already there setting up. Sam had set up a live webcam for club friends to view online.

As well as a meet and greet day, it was also a chance to MOT new droids and re-test pre-MOT approved droids.

Lot's of questions and answers about builds, electronics, ideas etc were discussed throughout the day. Sam bought along his R2-Q5, Chopper built and new one in build progress, as well as a new R2 unit he is working on.

Checkout Sam's progress on his Instagram feed.

Here are some other pictures from the day.

Here's a You Tube link to the above & more droids.

After the MOT's were complete, it was almost the end of the day.

The kids needed more food, but not before the final droid collective photos.

Below pic was posted up on my Instagram 

We also had two 'special guest', Brad O (BHD) & James S, made an appearance!

Was great to see them both! Although their droid's didn't attend.

Almost forgot to fit the R4 dome on to show people lol, managed to remember....just and take some photos as well.

Just need to finish printing off the neck ring..... more on this soon.

Force Friday 2 - Evening Event......September 1st 2017

So last night was the midnight opening of stores all over the UK showcasing the new toys etc for the new Star Wars film to be released 'The Last Jedi'.

The UK R2D2 Builders Club had been invited by John Lewis/Disney to attend the opening of their store in London's Oxford Street.

I eventually arrived at the store around 10:30pm, after being stuck in traffic due to an earlier accident that blocked the M4 for almost an hour!

Lee helped my unload R5 and we headed up to the fifth floor to set up with the others.

The other guys were already having photo opps with press etc which gave me time to set up R5 lol.

Sam, with his R2-Q5, had attended an earlier event of Po-Zu shoes new release (click for their Twitter news feed link). He had then joined us at the John Lewis store. Bumped in my friend Matt, from Jedi News UK, (click for their Twitter news feed link) who where reporting on this and the earlier Po-Zu event. The guys were then heading over to the Disney Store for MORE Star Wars toy releases.

The lovely Samantha Alleyne was also there

and it was time for a 'best selfie' pose pic 😉 lol

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There was a live band playing Star Wars songs, of course, along with a cantina Bar,

and not forgetting 'Joker Squad' in both Imperial, rebel & patrons of Star Wars.

There's some video's appearing online. These two so far I've found. Check-em out.

And this one from BT's Entertainment news online channel.

There were a lot of people already milling about, staff mostly but a few 'non' staff. The doors opened at midnight to the Star Wars theme tune being played loudly for the entering guests, who then made their way up the escalators to the top floor.

To be greeted by our droids and the band.

There was plenty to look at and the new R2 & BB unit Sphero toys got a lot of attention.

Along with the drone flying, Darth Vaders TIE fighter & the X-Wing.

There was plenty of Lego toys to get excited about too.

I looked at these two as well as the Walker, Star Destroyer & Slave 1.

As well as the Xmas advent calendar and other smaller sets.

These build a droid sets were rolling around the floor, lol,

had to be careful not to run them over!

There was also Star Wars themed TV sets on display.....

R5 got sucked into watching lol

The evening started to quieten down around 1am,

where people were apparently going over

to the Disney store to see what new stuff it had.

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Here's some group shots of the Droids

We finished up at 2am, and had our customary group photo.

This one is just of the Droids together.

Was a good night and as always great company with the builders catching up.

Then is was loading up and heading home.

I was home, unloaded and in bed by 5am lol

** LEGO Land Star Wars weekend event **

Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May

Lego lands annual Star Wars weekend.

Members of the UK R2 Builders joined 'Joker Squad', 'Sentinel Squad', 'UK Rebel Legion' & the 'Mandolorian Mercs uk' to celebrate May the 4th be with you.

Due to the early start on the mornings setting up, we were accommodated in one of the two conference rooms in the hotels. Due to the distance, myself & Emma, traveled up the night before. Emma had saved me a spot to set up my camp bed :).

Because of the nature of this event, there are no pictures of the droids
with children or adults!

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Saturday 29th
The Droids were split up into two groups, our group were at the far end by Heart Lake City. We drove around to a side gate entrance and unloaded. Our spotters, kept watch whilst we moved the cars back to a close by parking area.

Jason's R2D2 unloaded, set up & ready to go

Me installing R5's dome with Chris looking on.

The surface is very large cobble stones, it's also layed out to flow water into drains to stop areas flooding. This means that there wasn't anywhere to really drive the Droids around. So we found a spot to 'park' them and let the crowds come to them lol.

R5 with Sam's R2-Q5 & a guest BB8

This BB8 was a child who wanted to re-wear his costume (before it got to small). Last time was at Celebration Europe 2016 in London.

 R5 wasn't happy with all the Jawa attention!

................Brought back 'Bad Motivator' memories lol

Jason's R2 wanted to meet 'His maker' lol.

And attracted some unwanted Imperial attention!

The Rebels & Imperials received lots of attention from the visitors, lots of group photos which can be found on their respective websites/blogs/twitter etc.

The park wasn't to busy which I was surprised about, the possible reason for this was
that (here in the UK) Easter Bank Holiday weekend had only just happend the previous week or so, so kids etc would of been on half term. This was though a good thing, as it meant we got to have a breather between photo opportunities,
to give the static droids the once over,
and in Sam's case, to give his dome a quick polish lol

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At 12:30pm our group stored the droids in a side room for us to be able to head off and find lunch, which had been supplied by LegoLand.

Then at 1pm, it was back to load up the droids in Lee Towersey's awesome R2 Van, and head to our afternoon staging area, which would be at the top/entrance to the park.

Me & Paul

Three droids, and four 'adults' lol, loaded up into the back of the R2 van,
the faces tell you how much jokes we had :D

My R5, Sam's R2-Q5 & Jason's R2-D2

Whilst setting up the droids and giving them the once over before re-entering the park from a side gate. We bumped into Chewie, having a five minute breather.

R2-D2, Chewie & R5-X2

Nearing the end of the day the Sun made a guest appearance which meant we had to retreat into the shade for Chewie's sake lol

Droids lineup

This pic shows the ques for photographs with the visiting guest. We had got to do some limited driving around, but once we were parked up, that was it. Chewie's handler organised an orderly que so everyone was able to get their photo chance.

This pic you have have see on my Instagram profile.

Jason, Sam, myself & Oliver

We finished up about 6pm and loaded the droids back into Lee's van. He then dropped us off back at the car parks for us to unload and then load up our cars. Some tho were staying for the Sunday, and stored their droids in a secure location.

I headed back with Emma & Lee to have a sit down, rest, chat and eat some pizza.
Before I finished packing up and started on my journey home.

Another event under R5's belt and a sense of achievement in helping out with the other groups in raising £15K